High River remains under a state of emergency and residents are not being allowed back in. Our two homes are, from what I understand, still in 'the pond', an area that's not drained. We've heard conflicting reports as to when services will be restored and don't yet if the entire town will re-enter at once, or as areas are ready. Les remains in the house and as such it hasn't any water in the basement anymore, the carpet has been ripped up, and a lot of other clean up has occurred.
We've been excited to have Lynda here with us. As the kids haven't had no school since last Thursday (our school division mirrored the plan of the CBE & CCSD) they've been able to help our teachers 'take down' the school year and my sister has jumped right in there and been an amazing help.
This past week has felt busier than other year ends and as we've not had students in, I'm not sure what else was different. It's okay though, it's coming together. Our students will go to school for the morning only. I'll work today and tomorrow. With highway 1 west opened again (Cougar Creek flooding at Canmore washed it out), we may just have clear sailing heading to the trailer on Saturday.
The sun is shining (thanks God) and people are working so hard to restore normalcy. Course, as I write this I understand that a train has gone into the river near Alyth yard... and it's containing harmful goods. Deerfoot is shut down in the area.
We're looking to you God.
Blessed be your name in a land that is plentiful, where your streams of abundance flow, blessed be your name. Blessed be your name when the suns shining down on me, where the worlds all as it should be, blessed be your name. Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise. When the darkness closes in Lord, still I will say: Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
The water is going down... depending on where you are
Spoke to Les this morning from his house on the west end of High River. He and his brother are doing well despite not having septic or power (they're relying on the generator but have enough fuel to last about a week). The water is well below the basement floor now. YAY
As for things in other areas of the town, they won't be so good. Josh still hasn't been in his home but apparently there is still lots of water on the streets in his neighborhood.
Scott is itching to get down there to provide whatever needs Les has and to check on our 2 rental properties. I think that until services are restored, citizens are not being allowed back in. We'll have to wait. One of our tenants left the cat behind and are naturally concerned for its well-being. It will have been able to stay dry but I would think it would need (clean) water and food.
We didn't have school on Friday - they called a snow day for all Calgary schools in our division as the Calgary public & Catholic boards weren't in operation. Tomorrow will be the same. It feels silly for us since there's no risk and hasn't been any risk at our school and it's possible that aside from our Okotoks students, our families were untouched. The good news is that our grade 9s don't have to write their Provincial Achievement Test (finals) and because of that, our grades 7s and 8s will also not be writing their finals.
I broke that news to Emily as gently as I could but immediately after had to send her out for a run as she was over the moon excited. She was to write Science tomorrow, Math on Tuesday and LA on Wednesday.
I'll be heading to the school shortly as I need to send a message to all parents re tomorrow. We're using a new program called Synrevoice which I've heard is great, we just have to experience with it beyond our training a few months ago. Good thing they gave us notes!
Blessings on you.
1 John 5:14,15 God's people can have the assurance that He hears their pleas for help, even if He chooses to let them go through some trial.
Oh, here's a picture of downtown High River taken on Friday. The second picture is of 12 Avenue, facing westbound.
As for things in other areas of the town, they won't be so good. Josh still hasn't been in his home but apparently there is still lots of water on the streets in his neighborhood.
Scott is itching to get down there to provide whatever needs Les has and to check on our 2 rental properties. I think that until services are restored, citizens are not being allowed back in. We'll have to wait. One of our tenants left the cat behind and are naturally concerned for its well-being. It will have been able to stay dry but I would think it would need (clean) water and food.
We didn't have school on Friday - they called a snow day for all Calgary schools in our division as the Calgary public & Catholic boards weren't in operation. Tomorrow will be the same. It feels silly for us since there's no risk and hasn't been any risk at our school and it's possible that aside from our Okotoks students, our families were untouched. The good news is that our grade 9s don't have to write their Provincial Achievement Test (finals) and because of that, our grades 7s and 8s will also not be writing their finals.
I broke that news to Emily as gently as I could
I'll be heading to the school shortly as I need to send a message to all parents re tomorrow. We're using a new program called Synrevoice which I've heard is great, we just have to experience with it beyond our training a few months ago. Good thing they gave us notes!
Blessings on you.
1 John 5:14,15 God's people can have the assurance that He hears their pleas for help, even if He chooses to let them go through some trial.
Oh, here's a picture of downtown High River taken on Friday. The second picture is of 12 Avenue, facing westbound.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Day 3
The water in High River is receding and the area that used to be the hardest hit may have gotten off better than many others.
Authorities are denying access to the town and are arresting those caught trying to get in. Lynda made it out today and is at our home... she just can't go home yet. Les & his brother Ed are still at the house.
We're pretty certain that our homes on the far east side have a significant amount of water in the basement. Scott was hoping to get down there tomorrow to take fuel, food, batteries and drinking water to Les & Ed, and also to check on our houses, but we've been told there's no way he'll be permitted in. I wish I knew the logic behind not permitting help. Maybe authorities are concerned about looting. Apparently there's been some of that going on already.
Josh was able to get to his home today (right beside one of ours) and his basement is 'full'.
Decimated. That's the word Scott used the other day as he looked at pictures of the High River flooding.
The sun is shining and we're hoping that will continue. Wind would be welcome as well to help dry things up.
At least 4 fatalities but people are being searched for even yet. If you're from High River and haven't checked in please do so. Manpower is potentially being used to find you when it could be used for those actually missing.
Authorities are denying access to the town and are arresting those caught trying to get in. Lynda made it out today and is at our home... she just can't go home yet. Les & his brother Ed are still at the house.
We're pretty certain that our homes on the far east side have a significant amount of water in the basement. Scott was hoping to get down there tomorrow to take fuel, food, batteries and drinking water to Les & Ed, and also to check on our houses, but we've been told there's no way he'll be permitted in. I wish I knew the logic behind not permitting help. Maybe authorities are concerned about looting. Apparently there's been some of that going on already.
Josh was able to get to his home today (right beside one of ours) and his basement is 'full'.
Decimated. That's the word Scott used the other day as he looked at pictures of the High River flooding.
The sun is shining and we're hoping that will continue. Wind would be welcome as well to help dry things up.
At least 4 fatalities but people are being searched for even yet. If you're from High River and haven't checked in please do so. Manpower is potentially being used to find you when it could be used for those actually missing.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Flooding update
I've just heard from Lynda via text:
"We are doing ok. Keeping a supply of fuel for the generators has been a challenge. We have had little contact with the outside world but it would seem many are worse off than us. Four fatalities in town. Ed (Les' brother) is stranded here with us. Stories of people being rescued off their roofs make us feel so blessed and grateful”
She sent a picture of the front and back yard and it doesn't look like water is touching the home anymore. The burm, added after the 2005 flood, has definitely helped because the river is still raging on the other side of it.
The photo below is of the neighborhood which are 2 rental properties are. One of the tenants got close enough to see the water at the top of the exterior stairs. The basement isn't finished but aside from whatever they are storing, it houses the usual things like the furnace, hot water tank, washer and dryer.
Here's High River's 7-11 in the heart of the downtown.
"We are doing ok. Keeping a supply of fuel for the generators has been a challenge. We have had little contact with the outside world but it would seem many are worse off than us. Four fatalities in town. Ed (Les' brother) is stranded here with us. Stories of people being rescued off their roofs make us feel so blessed and grateful”
She sent a picture of the front and back yard and it doesn't look like water is touching the home anymore. The burm, added after the 2005 flood, has definitely helped because the river is still raging on the other side of it.
The photo below is of the neighborhood which are 2 rental properties are. One of the tenants got close enough to see the water at the top of the exterior stairs. The basement isn't finished but aside from whatever they are storing, it houses the usual things like the furnace, hot water tank, washer and dryer.
Here's High River's 7-11 in the heart of the downtown.
It's tough not to obsess over this devastation. It feels so much like 9/11 when we caught ourselves going back to the media over and over again to see the chaos. Clenching our teeth and wondering whether it could happen to us. I'm not concerned at all about rising water at our home but absolutely sick about those who've been faced with it. Kinda brings it on home right? So often when destruction/war/natural disasters strike we're not victims and it's not near us - we don't know anyone who've been personally affected yet we can empathize. Our 'sorrow' doesn't seem to last though and perhaps we forget it happened. This event doesn't allow that for us here - it's all over the papers, online, in texts and emails. Those who live through this won't ever forget it happened. Those people (ourselves included,) are trying to decide if it's better to rebuild or repair. Time will tell.
This is the day the Lord hath made, we WILL rejoice and be glad in it.
Flooding
For some reason as I open this page, the song "Tiny Bubbles" is playing through my mind. Southern Alberta has again been hit by significant flooding.
Thankfully our home here in Calgary is unaffected but countless others have. In High River, Lynda's place has 1.5' in the basement but I've heard they are still there and have the coffee pot on. YAY for generators. Others from their neighborhood have been welcomed into their home as well.
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Video+High+River+Flooding/8559309/story.html is a pretty sad video of what's been going on in High River.
The Stampede grounds are under 8' of water and the Calgary Stampede kicks off in 2 weeks. We'd planned for a professional photo shoot for our family on Sunday but as the park is bordered by the river I can only imagine the water sitting/running through it now. No worry though. We're truly blessed.
Our newest home in High River was moved into this past Saturday - welcome to the Town of High River! Those wonderful folks are now set up in front of our Calgary home in a travel trailer, waiting on word they can go home. We've heard there isn't any damage in their area so that too is a blessing.
Memory making in progress.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. II Peter 1:2
Thankfully our home here in Calgary is unaffected but countless others have. In High River, Lynda's place has 1.5' in the basement but I've heard they are still there and have the coffee pot on. YAY for generators. Others from their neighborhood have been welcomed into their home as well.
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Video+High+River+Flooding/8559309/story.html is a pretty sad video of what's been going on in High River.
The Stampede grounds are under 8' of water and the Calgary Stampede kicks off in 2 weeks. We'd planned for a professional photo shoot for our family on Sunday but as the park is bordered by the river I can only imagine the water sitting/running through it now. No worry though. We're truly blessed.
Our newest home in High River was moved into this past Saturday - welcome to the Town of High River! Those wonderful folks are now set up in front of our Calgary home in a travel trailer, waiting on word they can go home. We've heard there isn't any damage in their area so that too is a blessing.
Memory making in progress.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. II Peter 1:2
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